Title
Progesterone: the ultimate endometrial tumor suppressor
Document Type
Article
Peer Reviewed
1
Publication Date
4-1-2011
Volume
22
Journal, Book or Conference Title
Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM
PubMed ID
21353793
DOI
10.1016/j.tem.2011.01.005;
Abstract
The uterine endometrium is exquisitely sensitive to steroid hormones that act through well-described nuclear receptors. Estrogen drives epithelial proliferation, and progesterone inhibits growth and causes cell differentiation. The importance of progesterone as a key inhibitor of carcinogenesis is reflected by the observation that women who ovulate and produce progesterone almost never get endometrial cancer. In this review we describe seminal research findings that define progesterone as the major endometrial tumor suppressor. We discuss the genes and diverse signaling pathways that are controlled by progesterone through progesterone receptors (PRs) and also the multiple factors that regulate progesterone/PR activity. By defining these progesterone-regulated factors and pathways we identify the principal therapeutic opportunities to control the growth of endometrial cancer.
Keywords
Endometrial Neoplasms/drug therapy/metabolism, Female, Humans, Progesterone/metabolism, Progestins/therapeutic use, Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
NLM Title Abbreviation
Trends Endocrinol Metab
URL
http://ir.uiowa.edu/obgyn_pubs/41